Despite coming one obstacle short of qualifying for the finals, Chad Riddle had the experience of a lifetime

Manheim Elementary kindergarten teacher Chad Riddle swings on a rope toward a climbing wall obstacle during training in April at Alternate Routes gym in White March, Maryland. He participated in NBC's 'American Warrior Ninja' in early May but fell during the fifth obstacle, disqualifying him from the final rounds. (Clare Becker- The Evening Sun)

Chad Riddle is used to standing up in front of people.

The 24-year-old teacher stands in front of his kindergarten class at Manheim Elementary School every day, but standing on the first platform of the "American Ninja Warrior" challenge in front of a national audience, he said, was a little different.

All of the focus was on one stage in the middle of a Miami, Florida park. Bright lights and NBC cameras shined down as a show producer whispered a few encouraging words. The crowd began to cheer and Riddle made it a point to enjoy the moment.

"In that moment, it's something very special," he said as he recalled stepping on to the opening platform for the first time in early May. "You're not nervous because it's just a dream come true."

After completing the first four obstacles of the qualifying course for Ninja Warrior, including the "dancing stones" where competitors run across a set of spring-loaded cylinders with round, rubber tops that resemble small mushrooms, Riddle let out a yell for the crowd. He was genuinely having fun with it, he said.

But Riddle fell during the fifth obstacle — the curtain sliders, where the competitor has to jump from a platform to two sliding curtains then to another platform. He came one obstacle short of the 14-foot "warped wall." Climbing to the top of the wall would have qualified him for the finals.

Riddle was confident he could've reached the top of the wall. He had done it in practice numerous times, he said.

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"Regardless of how much you practice though, you have to be perfect six times to win the whole thing," Riddle said. "Unfortunately I wasn't perfect the first time."

Still, despite not reaching his full goals, he said, the humbling experience was something he will never forget.

He returned home in May, "pigged out" for a week by enjoying all of the fatty foods he couldn't eat before competing, and got right back to training for next year. He immediately started adding to his backyard obstacle course and travelled to North Carolina to compete.

American Ninja Warrior contestant Chad Riddle moves up a wall notch by notch using only his upper body strength in April. (Clare Becker - The Evening Sun)

His first obstacle? The curtain slider. And he easily completed it on the first try.

The most challenging part of the entire experience, Riddle said, was having to wait until July 28 when the show finally aired to be able to tell his supporters how he did. Riddle had signed a no-disclosure agreement with NBC, but that didn't stop his friends and family from asking for details.

"They were asking if they should book flights to the finals in Vegas," Riddle said. "I knew that I hadn't qualified so it stung a little that I knew it would be sort of a letdown."

Riddle's fiance attended the event so she knew the result and was able to support him.

"She reassured me that I wasn't a complete failure," he joked.

Riddle received support from his students and community as well. In April, Riddle said that nearly every student at Manheim Elementary had sent persuasive letters to help get him selected to run in the qualifying round. His students have sent him more letters since he has been home, letting him know that they practice ninja warrior moves on the playground.

"Coming home to a school full of kids who have supported and inspired me is touching," Riddle said. "Their support lets me know it matters."

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